Happy Gang - Knock, Knock Who's There?…It's the Happy Gang!

Tracks

Side 1

		Track Name	Length
	1	Intro	00:37
	2	I Want to be Happy	01:02
	3	Clair de Lun	03:06
	4	Shut the Door	02:47
	5	Tumbling Tumbleweeds
	6	Blue Skies

Side 2

		Track Name	Length
	1	Good Morning Sgt. Major
	2	Too Ra Loo Ra Loo Ral
	3	Don't Play Bingo Tonight Mother
	4	Darke Eyes
	5	Let's Get Together

Photos

Videos

No Video

Information/Write-up

For more than twenty years, the Happy Gang knocked on doors from Newfoundland to British Columbia. Throughout those years, the Happy Gang became more than just another radio program – they became a national institution to Canadians, young and old alike–everybody who heard them seemed to know them as personal friends. Towards the last years of the show, they were even into the United States on the Mutual network.

Recently I talked to Bert Pearl – he now lives in Hollywood. Bert remembers rounding up the gang from the staff musicians at the CBC in Toronto. The original members were Bert (piano and vocals), Bob Farnon (trumpet), Kay Stokes (organ), Blain Mathe (violin) and, later, Herb May and still later, Hugh Bartlett were the announcers.

Later the Gang changed and grew with new names like Jimmy Namaro, Eddie Allen, Cliff McKay, Bobby Gimby and George Temple.

It all began in 1937 and went right on until the later fifties. The first three years of the program were broadcast without the benefit of a studio audience, but in 1940 the Gang found a sponsor – it was announced that anyone wishing to see the broadcast could do so – the result was a packed house for every broadcast from then on.

About The Gang
Bert Pearl
– Usually referred to as "the heart and soul of sunshine" – he was the founder and director of the Happy Gang – the first piano he ever played on was at a Chinese restaurant in Calgary.
– He was born in 1908 and later lived in Los Angeles.

Kathleen Stokes
– Born in Winnipeg, she studied music in Toronto.
– She was often featured playing two organs at once.
– She now lives in California.

Eddie Allen
– Born in Toronto in 1930 and entered radio in 1947.
– He worked as a radio actor and announcer and later entered television as a newscaster and host of children's shows.

Blain Mathe
– Studied music in Paris.
– He served overseas in WW II and later became a music professor in the U.S.A.
– His main instrument was violin but he also played piano and trumpet.
– Now retired.

Cliff McKay
– He did skits, played clarinet and sax.
– Born in Vancouver, B.C.
– He now lives in California.

Jimmy Namaro
– Played vibes, piano and drums.
– Born in Toronto.
– He was a member of the "Jimmie Namaro Trio."

Bobby Gimby
– Wrote "Ca-na-da" for the Centennial in 1967.
– He toured with Mart Kenney and his Western Gentlemen in the 1930's.
– Born in Saskatchewan.

Hugh Bartlett
– A former Vancouver announcer who joined the Happy Gang in 1949.
– In the early 50's he was a CBC announcer in Ottawa and later worked in the Maritimes.
– In 1955, Bert Pearl left the show and Hugh took over as director.
– He retired in the 60's and now lives in Vancouver.

About the records
All of these recordings are by the original group and were recorded for both the Bluebird and RCA (Victor in those days) labels back in the 1940’s when the Gang was at the peak of its popularity.

These are typical of the material they used daily in their broadcasts. I hope you remember them as fondly as I do.
Jack Cullen CKNW – Vancouver.

ALBUM COORDINATOR: Norma Barnett

PLEASE NOTE: THIS RECORDING HAS BEEN TAKEN FROM THE ORIGINAL 78’s. THEY HAVE BEEN MASTERED WITH THE LATEST RECORDING TECHNIQUES!

CANADIAN CONTENT: ART WORK BY: CAMPBELL McINNES
CANADA LETTERING

Comments